It was some where around 92, give or take a year, that the manager of my local comic book shop took me under his wing and started to introduce me to indie comics. This would later evolve into him introducing me to indie music as well. I grew up outside of DC and the legends and myths of the DC punk scene were woven into my education of punk and indie rock, but also the controversy that broke out when Jawbox and Shudder To Think signed to major labels. I mean, yeah, a lot of bands were signing back then, but DC bands? And Dischord bands no less? For some people that was the ultimate betrayal. It would take me 10 years or so, and conversations with friends who had roots in the similar Olympia indie scene, for me to organize my thoughts on all of this. Thoughts that are more nuanced and complex then the ones I had at 18, but also still very similar in intention. Art is best served when the artist is free to create as they see fit.
This mix tape is a collection of songs that I remember listening to at this formidable time in my life.
One thing I wanted to comment on, you may notice that there is no Riot Grrl stuff here. While I would love to say I was cool enough to have been aware of what was happening just down to road from me in DC, the reality is I wasn’t. It would be a couple of years before I found groups like Bikini Kill and Brat Mobile and all the rest. This is one of the real regrets that I have.
Track List
- Slack Motherfucker – Superchunk – Tossing Seeds (Singles 89-91)
- Wrong – Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle
- Divorce Song – Liz Phair – Exile In Guyville
- Set Up – Holy Rollers – Holy Rollers
- Tour Song – Jawbreaker – Bivouac
- Hot Metal Doberman’s – Brainiac – Bonsai Superstar
- License To Confuse – Sebadoh – Bakesale
- In A Name – Tsunami – Deep End
- Heat Lightnin’ – Tuscadero – The Pink Album
- Sorry Again – Velocity Girl – Simpatico
- Shake Your Halo Down – Shudder To Think – Get Your Goat
- Cassavetes – Fugazi – In On The Kill Taker
- Ditch Digger – Rocket From The Crypt – Circa Now
- Bullet Proof Cupid – Girls Against Boys – Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
- Savory – Jawbox – For Your Own Special Sweetheart
- Cutie Pie – Blast Off Country Style – Rainbow Mayonnaise Deluxe